Adjustable idler structure



June 8 1926.

J. F. BoLGlANo ADJUSTABLE IDLER STRUCTURE Filed Sepe. 21. 1923 2 Sheets-Shea?. 1

INVENTOR June 8 ,81926. l 1,588,159

J. F. BOLGIANO ADJUSTABLE IDLER STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 21. 1925 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 INVENTOR J/zfz 130g am y BY , M ATTORNEY MI/ Patented June s, 1926.

. UNITED STATES p y ,1,588,159 PATENT oFi-Ll'cl5 JOHN r. pore-mno, or DAYTON, buro. l

ADJUSTABLE 4115mm sfrismc'runn.l

Application led September lis desire ,The 'principal object vof the invention is lto provide a sim lestructure to facilitate the adjustment o the front idler in taking vup slack inthe endless track and also to provide ajstructure of thisfkind embodying means for securely fastening the structure in its adjusted position.y e The invention embraces other objects, as

for exam le, improvements vin structural details, which will be brought out in the" terfere with the free movement of the wheel course of the following specification. In the drawing, forming a part hereof, Fig. 1v is a perspective view of an idler, showing its mounting on the tractor supporting frame, some portions of the structure being broken away to disclose the internal construction.

Fig. 2 is a. transverse vertical through the idler structure and Fig. 3 is a side view of Figj2. Throughout the views the same reference numerals are applied to the'same parts.

section The tractor on which the idler structure of the present invention is designed.V to be used, has su orting frames on opposite sides about w ich the endless tracks operate. The channel frame members 10 'and 11 constitutethe,A sidev members of one of these frames, and are disposed with the flanges 12 thereof oppositely directed. The tractor wheel 13, suitably channeled to receive the endless track, is mounted between the channels 10 and 11 supported -by a bolt 14 resting upon and secured to the channel members. The wheel 13 has' in itsvhub 15 a chamber 16 for the reception of the roller bearing 17, the outer race way for the bearing belng provided inthe chamber 16 byr a bearingring 18.3' A spacing sleeve 19 fitting the bolt 14. provides an inner .race way for the bearing 17. This sleeve abuts at its opposite ends with bearing blocksl 20 resting upon the channels 10 and 11 and having shoulders 21 abutting the inner faces of the channels to ide the idler structure in the adjustment t ereof. The blocks 20 have also dan es 22 which over-lie the top anges 12 of te channels 10 and 11. The up er faces of the anges 22' are inclined as dica-ted 21,1923. serial no. 664,125.

v oppositely to the -under faces ofthe upper` fianges 12 of the channels 10 and11..v The p flanges 12 and 22 are received inlla-'notches 23 in clamping blocks 24 onf-the' opposite endsrof the bolt 14. The head lof the bolt 14 has a dowely pin 25 receiv'fediin a socket provided therefor in onek ofthe lblocks 21 to y prevent'the turning of thelbo'lt 14 when the nut 26 is. tightened in securing ,thev structure mits adjusted position. The spacing sleeve 19,-1t will bel seen, serves in avmeasure, to

re-'vent the flexure of the channels 10 and 11 A inwardly toward each other whenv the bolt -is drawn up, and also maintains the roper relation of the .bearing-blocks 20 w1th respect to the hub ofthey wheel 13, so that" l no extent of tighteningof the bolt caninon its bearing. The nut 26 is suitably castellated to receive/a cotter 27 to prevent loosenin of the bolt when the structure is` once adJusted. The wheel 13 hasv circular lates 28 secured bybolts 29 in the hub 15 c osing the ends of the hub= to :confine `the bearing 17 and retain lubricant in the bearing chamber. These plates serve in addition, to limit the sidewise movement of' the' wheel by assuming sidewise thrust, by coming into engagementwith the bearing blocks 20when such sidewise thrust occurs. To further reeol tain the lubricant in the bearing chamber,

the lates -28 are also provided with packing washers.'

In the o eration of` adjusting the idler structure, t e bolt 14 is loosened to permit adjustment of the idler away from the (li-ivf.

ing wheell in taking up slack in the endless track. I' The bearing blocks 20y as shown, will convenientlyy form a part of a U-shaped yoke 31 having a threaded link 32 to facilitate adjustment of the.yok'e.` After the `defelt flange frame members, a wheel mounted between said frame members to be adjusted longitudinally relative thereto, a bolt for carrying said wheel, bearing blocks at the opposite ends thereof supported on said frame members, a sleeve on saidbolt serving to space. said bearing blocks, and clamp` ing means on the opposite ends of said bolt forming a wedge with said blocks to secure said bearing blocks on said frame members when said boltis drawn up.

2. The combination of a frame member having a flange, a wheel mounted thereon, a bolt for ,carrying said wheel, clamping means on each side of said wheel for engaging said flange as a Wedge, a head at one end of said bolt and a nut at the other end for `drawing up said bolt to secure both of said clamping means simultaneously to said frame, and a spacing sleeve on said bolt serving as a bearing for said wheel.

3. The combination of a frame member havinga flange projecting from the side thereof, a bearing block to lie on said frame member having a flange to overlie the flange of said frame member, a clamping block having a V-notch to receive said flanges, a wheel to be mounted on said frame, and a bolt passing through said Wheel, bearing block and clamping block for holding the said parts together clamped to said frame member.

4. The combination of a pair of spaced flanged4 frame members,- a Wheel to be mounted thereon, a bolt for carrying said wheel, a bearing block for each endr of said bolt on said frame, clamping means at each end of said bolt for wedgingly securing said bearing blocks to `the flanges of said frame member as the same are dra-wn toward each other when said bolt is drawn up, and a spacing sleeve on said bolt, providing a bear-v ing for said wheel thereon and engaging said bearing blocks to provide a rigid bitment thereforI in the drawing up 'of said 5. The combination of a pair of laterally spaced flanged frame members having their flanges outwardly oppositely directed, a Wheel to be mounted between said frame members for adjustment longitudinally relative thereto, a bolt for carrying said wheel, means for rigidly maintaining the spaced relation of said frame members,land clamping means at opposite ends of said bolt for wedgingly engaging the flanges of said frame members when said bolt is drawn up to secure said wheel in adjusted position on said frame.

6. The combination of a pair of laterally [spaced fianged frame members having their flanges outwardly oppositely directed, al

wheel mounted between said frame members to be adjusted longitudinally relative thereto, a bolt for carrying said wheel, bearing blocks near the opposite ends of said bolt to rest on said frame members having flanges overlying the. flanges of said frame members and shoulders to abutthe inner faces of said frame members, a sleeve on said bolt for spacing said bearing blocks, and clamping means on the opposite ends of said bolt to secure the flanges of said bearing blocks and said frame members together when said bolt is drawn up.

7. The. combination of a pair of laterally spaced frame members, a wheel to be mounted therebetween, having a bearing chamber therein extending through the hub thereof from side to side, a shaft extending between said frame members through said chamber, an anti-friction bearing in said chamber acting between said shaft and said wheel, bearing blocks to support the ends of said shaft on said frame members having means to secure the same to said frame members, and circular end plates for the hub of said wheel closing said `bearing chamber for the retention of the bearing and lubricant therefor therein and engaging said bearing blocks when a lateral thrust is communicated to said wheel.

8. In an adjustable idler structure or the like, the combination of a pair of spaced supporting frame members, an idler wheel therebetween arranged for adjustment longitudinally thereof, a U shaped yoke for adjusting said Wheel lengthwise of said frame members having bearing members at the ends of the armsthereof, slidable along said frame members, a bolt forjsupporting said wheel, a bearing sleeve onl said bolt serving to space said bearings and clamping members cooperating with said bearings at opposite ends of said bolt for rigidly fixing the same to said frame members, as the adj ustment of said yoke. i

9. An adjustable idler structure or the like comprising a shaft bolt for mounting the idler, longitudinal flanged frames, means for securing the idler to said flanges comprising slidable blocks supporting the shaft and provided with inclined projections resting on the flanges, a clamping means enclosing the projections and flanges in wedge like relation, and meansy for moving said clamping means, said movement actuating the movement yof the blocks.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN F. .BOLGIANQ 

